Shin Bet Questions Omani Pilot Suspected of Flydubai Attack Plot

The Shin Bet security agency interrogated the Omani pilot suspected of attempting to carry out an attack on a Flydubai flight this week, according to a source familiar with the details who spoke to the Financial Times. Israel and the UAE are coordinating closely on the investigation, the report stated. Israeli investigators are examining whether the suspect acted alone or in coordination with others, another source told the British newspaper. The New York Post reported that the co-pilot, identified as Hammam Al-Hammami, planned to crash the plane, which was en route to Israel, either at Ben Gurion Airport or the Azrieli Towers in Tel Aviv, in a stunt mirroring the September 11th attacks. Al-Hammami reportedly confessed during his interrogation that he had been planning the operation for a long time and had gathered intelligence in Israel. He told investigators that he had applied to all airlines, checked which ones flew to Tel Aviv, and therefore chose Flydubai, adding that he planned the operation even before being accepted for employment. The article also references previous reports about the incident, including Israel's preparedness to intercept the plane, Washington's stance, and the role of unknown pilots in saving the flight.